Warners Holiday Camps Back
Warners have changed beyond all recognition and now cater to the adults-only holiday market. Most of the old camps have been disposed of but a small number remain. Most of their business is now centred on hotels which have been created around some wonderfully unique manor houses. Details on these can be found on their official website. The list below shows the holiday camps that are both still open as well as those which have been sold or closed. Any additional info most welcome.
Grateful thanks to Matt Crawford for help compiling the list and to Colin Huskisson for providing further information.
Any additional Warners info and photos most welcome!
Bembridge, Isle of Wight
A long established camp previously known as Bembridge Chalet Hotel it was sold to Warners in the late 60s/early 70s. Consisted of a large manor house with chalets spread throughout the 20 acre grounds. In recent years it's been extensively rebuilt and most of the chalets replaced with a major new hotel complex. Still owned and operated by Warners today.
Coronation, Hayling Island
Opened in the early 1960s and able to originally accommodate 620 guests. Renamed and rebuilt in the mid 1980s as Lakeside Holiday Centre. Still owned and operated by Warners today.
Corton, Suffolk
A 30 acre camp dating from the early Warner days it was extensively rebuilt in the late 1980s with new two-storey chalet accommodation. Still owned and operated by Warners today.
Dovercourt Bay, Essex
Acquired by Warners in the 1930s it was transformed into a military base during World War 2. Had accommodation for 850 people. Used for exterior scenes in the BBC comedy 'Hi-de-Hi'. Closed and demolished in the late 1980s to form a housing estate.
Gunton Hall, Lowestoft, Suffolk
Acquired in the 1980s and consisting of a manor house with chalets spread throughout the grounds. Still owned and operated by Warners today.
Mill Rythe, Hayling Island
A long established camp previously known as the Sunshine Holiday Centre it was purchased by Warners in the mid 1980s. Had accommodation for 800 people and featured in the movie 'Confessions from a Holiday Camp'. Sold to Renowned Holidays in the mid 1990s and still open today.
Minster, Isle of Sheppey
Opened in the mid-1950s and able to accommodate 700 people. It was sold in 1983 and the name was changed to Irwin Park. A number of the old chalets and buildings still survive today although most of the chalets are now privately owned.
Northney, Hayling Island
The first ever Warners camp, occupying 36 acres and able to accommodate 850 guests. Opened in 1931 and used throughout the war as HMS Northney. Closed and demolished in the early 1980s. A small part was used for a housing estate but the majority is now a public open space. Traces of the old boating lake can still be found.
Able to accommodate 650 people it featured in the cult 1972 movie 'That'll be the Day'. Merged with the adjoining St Clare Holiday Camp (also owned by Warners) in the late 1980s to form Harcourt Sands. Sold to Renowned Holidays in the mid-1990s and later closed in September 2006.
Click here to view a postcard from Warner's Puckpool
Opened in the 1930s it could accommodate 720 people. It merged with the adjacent Blue Waters Holiday Village in the mid 1980s and was renamed Lyme Bay Holiday Village. Previously owned and operated by Hollybush Hotels. The site has now been purchased by Tesco and the camp was closed in January 2009.
Click here to view a postcard from Warner's Seaton
Sinah Warren, Hayling Island
Opened in the early 1960s with typical chalet accommodation set within the 50 acre grounds. Since then the chalets have gone and been replaced with a major new hotel complex. Still owned and operated by Warners today.
Click here to see some photos from Sinah Warren.
South Bay, Brixham, Devon
The only Warners self catering site. Later sold to Haven Holidays but recently sold again. Currently owned by John Fowler Holiday Parks and still in operation.
Southleigh, Hayling Island
Could accommodate 700 people. Closed and demolished in the early 1980s. Now occupied by a housing estate.
St Clare, Isle of Wight
Merged with Puckpool (see above) in the late 1980s
Woodside Bay, Wootton, Isle of Wight
Situated close to the Pontins Little Canada camp it opened in 1964 on a 30 acre site and was able to accommodate 900 people. Closed in the 1980s and purchased by the Rotch Brothers with the view of opening a new camp on the site. As yet, nothing has happened. However, in order to comply with the Isle of Wight Council's orders, all buildings have been bulldozed and the crushed material taken away, even the beach is no longer what it once was.
Click here to view a postcard from Warner's Puckpool
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
A long established camp previously known as Norton Chalet Hotel it was sold to Warners in the late 60s/early 70s. Consisted of a large manor house with chalets spread throughout the 20 acre grounds. It was the smallest of the old original Warner camps and could accommodate 475 guests. Renamed Norton Grange in the 1980s and extensively rebuilt and enlarged. It's still owned and operated by Warners today.
